History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Biographies/Florence Violet Granville/Notes

Florence Violet Granville - Transcriptions and notes

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Excellent biography of Violet as at 1922 in the Sydney Sun

ROYAL RAIMENT. ELECTRIC WOMAN. BREAKING NEW GROUND. Wires and Wireless.

There is an old saying that "if you know what you want life will give it to you." Miss F. V. Wallace, who has just won the first diploma for electrical engineering in Australia, is a living example of the adage. "I started my work as an electrical engineer with a five-pound note," she said when referring to the recent public distinction she has achieved. "Today the diploma doesn't mean very much to me, because I have been working steadily at my job for the last seven years. A great many people have never heard about the only woman in the business, but all the same I have had no trouble in getting all the contracts I could deal with. Before I took up this work I was a teacher of mathematics in Armidale. It suddenly occurred in church one night that I was wasting my time at that, and a strong feeling came over me that I ought to to study science. I didn't hesitate. I came back to Sydney, for although I belong to Austinmer I was educated at a Sydney high school, and I went to the 'Uni.' and studied science for a year. At the same time I attended the Technical College in the evenings and went through the engineering course." Miss Wallace's grey eyes flash with the enthusiasm that has made her — the only woman amongst hundreds of men — a success today. Petite and frail to look upon, she has obviously boundless energy and an indomitable will.

THE HELPING HAND. "Yes, naturally the men were curious about me at first. They used to peep at me over the partition and through the doors, but I just waved back at them, and very soon they were treating me as one of themselves. Perhaps it's because I'm little, but I've never had anything to complain of in that way. There has never been a hint of superiority nor of contempt. I have always found that men tire ready to help me with my work rather than criticise it. "I remember the first evening at the Tec. It was 'practical night,' and the instructor gave me some soldering to do, probably thinking it would finish my enthusiasm. But that was child's play to me — the sort of thing I'd been doing since I was a kid. And anyway the boys all came round and offered to show me the best way to do it. "I got my first job through an advertisement. Someone at Undercliffe wanted a house wired, and though I had only book knowledge at the time of that sort of work, I wasn't afraid I couldn't do it if I got the job. It was a fearfully hot day, and the house was about two miles from the tram. I got the job because I was the only 'contractor' to arrive there. I employed a lad to help me, and — well, there were no complaints when it was done. Since that day contracting has been so ridiculously easy for me that I have had as many orders as I could keep up with." Miss Wallace went on to tell how she started her office and workshop combined at Rawson Chambers, where she threw herself on the mercy of the manager to lend her a few chairs, a table, and a strip of oilcloth to make a show for the customers. She had no tools in the beginning, but bought them with her first earnings. The men from the Technical College used to bring her their odd jobs, or come to work themselves in her workshop which was open house to them. It is the same thing today. When she transferred to the electrical and wireless shop that she now presides over she bought the entire stock of the wireless vendor who preceded her and began to take an interest in wireless telegraphy beyond the mere selling of the apparatus.

DOTS AND DASHES. "The first man who came in for an iron pyrites crystal made me feel ashamed that I couldn't talk his language — he was a wireless operator from one of the boats — but I set about rectifying that, and very soon I was a keen convert to the radiograph. Today I could talk about wireless for hours and never get tired of it. Indeed I am so enthusiastic that I am giving up contracting altogether as soon as I can finish the orders I have on hand, and am going to devote myself entirely to wireless. We make the machines here. I have my own lathe upstairs, and we turn out the entire machines, both the crystal and the valve wireless apparatus. The connecting telephones come from America, but the ebonite and the crystals, and even the copper wire for the drums, are all produced locally. With this little machine that you can carry in your hand we are able to pick up Melbourne and all adjacent stations, while the valve machine puts us in touch with New York, the Eiffel Tower, Carnarvon, and all the big wireless stations abroad. There are five thousand amateur wireless enthusiasts in Australia, and supplying their needs is a trade — a growing trade — in itself." Through Miss Wallace having taken up a collection for the wireless operator of the Helen B. Sterling, who lost heavily in the wreck, and the pleasant social gathering that was convened for the presentation, has grown the establishment of the Metropolitan Radio Club, of which she has been elected the treasurer. There were at the first meeting, held a fortnight ago in the Persian Garden, one hundred members, all residents of Sydney. Again Miss Wallace was the only woman member. This enterprising woman pioneer of one of the most necessary branches of the world's work is one of those who says little and does much.

1890s

1899

1899 06

Violet takes a prominent place, both reciting and singing, at a Thirroul Public School children's entertainment

THIRROUL PUBLIC SCHOOL. Children's Entertainment. An entertainment in connection with Thirroul Public School was given in the schoolroom on Friday evening last, and (writes our correspondent) was a pronounced success, both as regards attendance and financial results. The object of the entertainment was to raise funds for prizes, and to complete the school library some time ago inaugurated. Every praise is due to our worthy teacher, Mr. L. C. Willard, his equally worthy assistant, Miss Baldwin, and also the scholars for the really enjoyable evening they gave and also for the splendid object lesson in self help, as our country schools are very heavily handicapped in comparison with the city schools as regards prizes and other requisites. The programme was a lengthy and varied one, and the cool and precise manner in which the pupils went through their respective items individually and collectively reflected the greatest credit on their teachers, considering the short period they had to prepare and the fact that this was the first entertainment given at the school. Master J. McEwan recited in very good style "Why the Rooster would'nt die." Physical drill and dumb bell exercise by the junior boys, was well done indeed; "Rock, Baby, Dear," by the little girls, was excellently rendered; a recitation, "Perseverance," by Miss Violet Wallace, a very appropriate piece for such an entertainment, was capitally rendered by this little lady of eight years, and although her voice was not strong enough to fill such a large room, the elocution was excellent, and with her natural talent, and good memory, she should give a good account of herself in the future; Miss G. Webb contributed a solo, "I'm Motherless now," with much credit; a dance, "Sailor's Hornpipe," by Master Ford produced an encore; a duet by Miss A. Akhurst and Master A. Osborne (in character), "Where Are You Going, My Pretty Maid," produced much amusement by the pert manner of this young lady in snubbing her mercenary lover; the funeral of "Cock Robin" was humorous, with a strong thread of the grotesque running through it; Miss Gordon's recitation, "Poor Little Joe," a rather lengthy piece, was well done, showing her to have a good memory and plenty confidence; the favorite juvenile recitation, "My Dead Doll," was well executed by Miss Violet Wallace; song, "Topsy Turvy," by the junior pupils evoked shrieks of laughter, and was well staged; Miss S. Ford danced the Highland Fling in first-rate style, receiving great applause and being encored; the song, "The Fireman," by Masters Akhurst and Osborne (in character) created great amusement and was rendered with the confidence of professionals; Master Ray Robins' rendering of "Santa Claus' Visit" evoked loud applause. The tableaux, rifle drill, and (particularly) the floral march and song, "Advance Australia," were most admirably done; "God Save the Queen" brought a most pleasant entertainment to a close.

1900s

1904

1904 01

Violet receives a certificate in religious instruction from Rural Deanery of Wollongong while at Thirroul Public School

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. We have received a full report from the Church of England synod committee on special religious instruction in Public Schools. About 1,200 children in 13 schools in the Rural Deanery of Wollongong, taught by the salaried teacher were examined by the Rev. E. H. Tottenham, M.A., of whom 62 were invited to attend at Wollongong for further examination; 30 presented themselves, the difficulty of long distance preventing a larger number from doing so. The examiner in his report says: The 1,200 children whom I have examined show a fair knowledge generally of their work. Foremost are the pupils of Unanderra School. The Avondale quartet place this school in the very front rank. Corrimal, Mt. Kembla, and Thirroul gave evidence both of intelligence and of interest in their work. The W. Dapto and the (two) Corrimal (girl prize-winners) were also conspicuous for the example they set to the juniors. The work is one to be warmly encouraged, particularly in the direction of realistic teaching that Christian truths are intended to be lived, and not only to be learnt by heart. Wollongong Rural Deanery results: (A.) Ununderra, Avondale, Corrimal, Thirroul, Mt. Kembla, most excellent; (B.) W. Dapto, Mt. Keira, Balgownie, excellent; (C.) Dapto, Woonona, Keiraville, Wollongong, good; Fairy Meadow, Port Kembla, Berkeley, fair. Prizes.— Seniors: Albert Staff, Unanderra; Jessie Moir, Corrimal; Pearl Duncan, Corrimal. Intermediate: Arthur Hunter, Wollongong; Tamar Campbell, W. Dapto; Ethel Duley, Avondale, Avondale. Junior: Lily Frost, Mt. Kembla. Certificates.— (A.) Unanderra School:— Seniors — Albert Staff, H. Hurt, Connie Knowles, Annie Hunt, John Buchanan, K. Gorrell, Pearl Benjamin, Allan Rankin; Juniors — Walter Cattrell, Roy Bloor, Arthur Osborne. Avondale:— Intermediate — Eva Bryen, Ethel Duley, Lily Bryen, Polly Neville. Corrimal:— Seniors — Jessie Moir, Perl Duncan, Lucy Sanderson, J. Wilmot, H. Lynch; Juniors — Laura Liversidge, Lena Hankin, Georgia Harris, Eileen Moon. Thirroul:— Seniors — Violet Wallace, George Smith, Arthur Wilmot, Jack Harrison; Juniors — Mal. McGuiness, Muriel Walker, Charles Walker, Alfred Adey. Mt. Kembla — Seniors — Joyce Hamilton, J. Peace, James Vaughan, James Morrison, B. Johnson; Juniors — Lily Frost, Emily Stone, Sid Laidlow, Eric Kelly. (B.) W. Dapto School:— Intermediate — Tamar Campbell, Edwin Smith, Dorothy Harris. Mt. Keira:— Seniors — W. Anderson, H. Bissell, F. Anderson, M. Payne; Juniors — Ethel Bissell, Stanley Elson. Balgownie:— Seniors — George Hayne, V. Sherman, M. McKenzie, J. Harris, A. Crane; Juniors — Willie Campbell, Ada Chapman. (C.) Dapto School:— Seniors — Catherine Cameron, Grace Gentles, F. St. Clair, R. Gentles; Juniors — Linda Flodin, Enid Ford, Fred Posker. Keiraville:— Intermediate — H. Caisley, Edie Bulch. Eva Jubb. Woonona:— Intermediate — Jane Thompson, Emily Cope, Willie Carter, Elsie Burling. Wollongong:— Intermediate — Arthur Hunter, Ronald Osborne, Harold Cham-berlain, Cecil R. Blomfield, E. Williams, Thos. D'Arcy Irvine. (D.) Fairy Meadow:— Seniors — A. McKenzie, W. Crotty, E. McKenzie; Juniors — Fred Guest, Willie Scott. Port Kembla:— Intermediate — Alice Nicols, Peter Rieck, Muriel Peterson. Berkeley:— Intermediate — Isabel Neaves, Hilda Barber.

1904 07

Violet wins a three year scholarship to the Sydney Girls' High School

HERE AND THERE. . . . Miss Violet Wallace, of Austinmer, and pupil of Thirroul Public School, has received word of her success in the recent State Bursary examination, which is competitive. Miss Wallace is 13 years old, and is now entitled to a three years' term at the Girls' High School, Sydney, free.

1904 08

SOUTH COAST ITEMS. . . . Miss Violet Wallace, late pupil at Thirroul Public School, and who gained one of the three bursaries competed for in June last, open to all school girls under 14 years, has now started her studies in the Girls' High School, Sydney.

1910s

1914

1914 12

Violet receives a pass in Mathematics I. B at University of Sydney as an evening student

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS. ADDITIONAL RESULTS. The following additional examination results have been supplied by the University of Sydney:— FACULTY OF ARTS. . . . MATHEMATICS I. B.— . . . Pass (alphabetical): . . . . (e) Florence V. Wallace

1915

1915 09

Violet passes Science at the University

THE UNIVERSITY. The following additional results of examinations have been posted:— . . . Pass (Science) — Alberta C P Andrews, Ida D. Barnes, Mary M. R. Brooks, Aileen M. Broughton, Kathleen I. Cronin, A. D. Dibley, Marie Erhard, A. Evans, Winifred A. Goadby, R. G. Hay, T. H. H. Hughes, W. J. Kirchner, Ivy Litchfield, Catherine D. McGrath, Violet Meikle, Mona Moriarty, Estelle Penman, Eva M. Pollard, Leila B. Quigley, Elinor C. Ross, Heather H. Sherrie, C. R. Smith, G. A. Spring, Myrtle E. Thompson, Florence V. Wallace, Elsie M. Webb, G. R. White.

1916

1916 05

Violet succeeds with her tender for an electric light installation at Austinmer

BUILDINGS, PLANS, AND TENDERS. . . . VARIOUS WORKS. Mr. S. H. Buchanan, architect, notifies that the tender of F. V. Wallace has been accepted for electric light installation at Austinmer, and the tender of Messrs. McIntyre and Curran has been accepted for painting and repairs to residence at Shell Cove Road, Neutral Bay. Plans are now being prepared for a residence at North Sydney.

1917

1917 01

Violet announced as having passed in electrical engineering and descriptive geometry at the Technical College

AUSTINMER. . . . Miss Florence V. Wallace, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Wallace, of Austinmer, has passed the examination in electrical engineering (Technical College); she also passed in descriptive geometry. Miss Wallace is at present in rather unique position of being an electrical contractor in Sydney, and appears to be well adapted for this class of work. At the age of 13 she won a bursary at the Thirroul Public School.

1917 04

Tenders Accepted. ARCHITECTS' WORK Place. Description. Architect and Builder. . . . . Leura — Instal Electric Light to Residence. Peddle and Thorp. F. V. Wallace, Rawson Place, Syd.

1917 05

Violet wins two contracts for installation of electric lighting to factories

BUILDING INDUSTRY & MACHINERY. CONTRACTS ACCEPTED. . . . City.— Installation of electric light to factory, George-street West: F. V. Wallace, contractor, Rawson Chambers. . . . Botany.— Installation of electric light to factory: F. V. Wallace, contractor, Rawson Chambers, George-street.

1917 06

Violet wins another contract for domestic electric light installation at Coogee

Tenders Accepted. ARCHITECTS' WORK.

Place. Description. Architect and Builder.

Coogee— Installation of Electric Light to Residence .. J. Dunstan and Son. F. V. Wallace, Rawson Place, Syd.

1917 07

Tenders Accepted. ARCHITECTS' WORK.

Place. Description. Architect and Builder.

Summer Hill — Installation of Electric Light to Residence J. Dunstan and Son. F. V. Wallace, Rawson Chambers, Sydney.

Tenders Accepted. ARCHITECTS' WORK.

Place. Description. Architect and Builder.

Mosman— Installation of Electric Light J. Dunstan and Son. F. V. Wallace Rawson Pl., Sydney.

1917 08

BUILDING INDUSTRY & MACHINERY. CONTRACTS ACCEPTED. Newtown.— Installation of electric light and power to house, Margaret-street; W. Laurisch, architect; F. V. Wallace, Contractor, Rawson-chambers.

1917 09

BUILDING - INDUSTRY & MACHINERY. CONTRACTS ACCEPTED.

Little Coogee.— Installation of electric light and power to two residences, Messrs. F. V. Wallace, contractor.

Mosman.— Electric light and power to house, Raglan-street, Peddle and Thorp, architects, Messrs. F. V. Wallace, contractor, Rawson-cham-bers, Rawson-place.

1917 10

Two more electrical contracts for Violet

BUILDING - INDUSTRY & MACHINERY. CONTRACTS ACCEPTED.

. . . City.— Light and power installation to shop premises, Pitt-street: F. V. Wallace, contractor, Rawson-chambers.

. . . Lakemba.— Installation of electric light to premises for Messrs. George Hudson and Son: F. V. Wallace, contractor, Rawson-chambers.

1918

1918 02

PERSONAL. ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER INSTALLATIONS. MISS F. V. WALLACE 103 Rawson-chambers, Rawson-place, Tel., City 8542

1920s

1920

1920 03

MDLLE. EDISON. WHEELS AND DYNAMOS. ENGINEERING — FOR CHOICE.

(Start Photo Caption) Miss Violet Wallace (End Photo Caption)

"And when I was asked, 'What do you want to do?' I said, 'Engineering, please.' " Little Miss Violet Wallace admitted this with a genuine blush. She is so modest about her achievement that she would rather talk of anything than how she became a successful electric engineer, choosing it above all others when it became a matter of a career, and was discussed in the family circle. "The idea always fascinated me," she said. "I wanted to see the wheels go round from the day I could remember, and later wanted to know exactly what made them do so. It became a possessing obsession. Way back in the days when only three scholarships were available for girls wishing to get to the High School, I happened to be of the lucky trio one year. That was the real beginning, and I plunged straight into science and the notion took its first concrete form. From school the University was the next step, but after I had nearly completed my course circumstances arose that made it necessary for me to get at once into bread-and-butter harness, so the Technical College, with its big activities, became my new field. After that it was work — plain hard graft — with no time for powdering my nose or fluffing my hair. Overalls on all day, and no inclination to look into a mirror, even if one had been handy. It was a busy life for me — seven years — but packed full of interesting experiments and achievements.

THE WOMAN BOSS "Of course all my 'hands' are men, and I never have any bother. Now and again engaging labor I have overheard the query, 'Say, what's it like working for a woman?' and the reply, 'She'll do — come in.' Once only did I strike the jealous masculine opposition that I had feared. A City Council inspector told me I ought to be home in my proper place, washing dishes; but he didn't find any fault with my work. "Another time I asked a gentle workman to put in a little overtime on a job, and he was so disgusted at the injury and insult of my sex and the request that he threw a coil of wire at me. But that's all in the game, and breaks any monotony that might threaten." Being a Mdlle. Edison isn't everything, but it is a great deal, and is an alternative to the old-fashioned jobs that still survive."

1921

1921 11

Business Announcements. 10d per line (about 7 words to line); 2 lines, 1/8. . . . MISS F. V. WALLACE. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER. Wireless Apparatus a Speciality. 18 ROYAL ARCADE (opp. Queen Victoria Building) GEORGE STREET. SYDNEY. Telephone: City 8543.

1921 12

Business Announcements. . . . MISS F. V. WALLACE, ELECTRICAL ENGINEER. Wireless Apparatus a Speciality. 18 ROYAL ARCADE (opp. Queen Victoria Building). GEORGE STREET. SYDNEY. Telephone: City 8543.

1922

1922 02

Violet organises a presentation to the wireless operator of the Helen B. Sterling

PERSONAL. . . . The wreck of the Helen B. Sterling, and the stirring incidents associated with the rescue of her crew were recalled last night, when a public welcome, together with presentation of a wallet of bank notes, was tendered to Mr. R. H. Shaw, the youthful wireless operator of the vessel. The function, which was arranged by Miss F. V. Wallace was held at the Persian Garden, and was largely attended by members of the Wireless Institute, and others interested in wireless. Mr. R. C. Marsden, who presided, and other speakers, paid a tribute to the manner in which Mr. Shaw stuck to his post during a trying and critical period.

Violet passes her final examination for diploma of electrical engineering

AUSTINMER LADY GAINS DISTINCTION. Miss F. V. Wallace, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Wallace, of Austinmer, has passed the final examination for the diploma in electrical engineering, after a six years' course covering theory and practice in electrical and mechanical engineering. This entitles her to be classed as an Associate of the Sydney Technical College. She is the first lady to have gained the distinction, and is now devoting her attention to wireless, and her place of business is 18 Royal Arcade, Sydney. She it was who organised the reception and presentation to Mr. Shaw, the wireless operator on the sailing ship Helen B. Sterling.

IN THE PUBLIC EYE. (Start Photo Caption) Miss F. V. Wallace. An electrical engineer, and first woman to be classed as an Associate of the Sydney Technical College. (End Photo Caption)

1922 03

Violet is appointed treasurer of the Metropolitan Radio Club

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio News for the Amateur. NEW CLUBS HELP SCIENCE ALONG. BY DOT DASH New Clubs Formed How wireless experimenting is going ahead may be judged by the enthusiastic gatherings to form clubs in the City and suburbs. This is all good for the enthusiast, for the more he gets together in organised bodies, the more will the authorities sit up and take notice when approached for the inevitable relaxation of restrictions. It has been suggested from some quarters that a large number of clubs will not enable the amateurs to present a united front to authority. But this is wrong, for a conference of delegates from the clubs could easily be arranged. In the meantime clubs are being formed and many are projected. It is a healthy sign, and amateurs would be well advised to join the club in their suburb or district, or get together and form one. We shall need all the organisation we can get when the time comes. A lusty infant is the Metropolitan Radio Club, formed recently by a gathering of over 70 persons. The present intention of this body is to have mixed social and wireless evenings, and the idea seems to be a popular one. Already the membership of the club is nearing the hundred mark, and names are still being entered in its register. The very small subscription is another popular feature. The following office-bearers were appointed by the meeting:— President, R. C. Marsden; secretary, A. Mitchell; treasurer, Miss F. V. Wallace; committee, W. G. Best, W. Bird, and P. Sewell.

18 ROYAL ARCADE, SYDNEY. Tel.,City 8543. MISS F. V. WALLACE, Electrical Engineer. Complete receiving sets for Wireless Ama-teurs from £7/10/-.

PERSONAL PARS. "He is a worthy person who is much respected by good men". The first woman to become an engineer in this State is Miss F. V. Wallace, of Austinmer. After taking a course of six years in electrical and mechanical engineering, and passing the necessary examinations, the lady now blooms as the first Associate of the Sydney Technical College. Miss Wallace is young and charming, with a wealth of dark silky hair.

Excellent biography of Violet as at 1922 in the Sydney Sun

ROYAL RAIMENT. ELECTRIC WOMAN. BREAKING NEW GROUND. Wires and Wireless.

There is an old saying that "if you know what you want life will give it to you." Miss F. V. Wallace, who has just won the first diploma for electrical engineering in Australia, is a living example of the adage. "I started my work as an electrical engineer with a five-pound note," she said when referring to the recent public distinction she has achieved. "Today the diploma doesn't mean very much to me, because I have been working steadily at my job for the last seven years. A great many people have never heard about the only woman in the business, but all the same I have had no trouble in getting all the contracts I could deal with. Before I took up this work I was a teacher of mathematics in Armidale. It suddenly occurred in church one night that I was wasting my time at that, and a strong feeling came over me that I ought to to study science. I didn't hesitate. I came back to Sydney, for although I belong to Austinmer I was educated at a Sydney high school, and I went to the 'Uni.' and studied science for a year. At the same time I attended the Technical College in the evenings and went through the engineering course." Miss Wallace's grey eyes flash with the enthusiasm that has made her — the only woman amongst hundreds of men — a success today. Petite and frail to look upon, she has obviously boundless energy and an indomitable will.

THE HELPING HAND. "Yes, naturally the men were curious about me at first. They used to peep at me over the partition and through the doors, but I just waved back at them, and very soon they were treating me as one of themselves. Perhaps it's because I'm little, but I've never had anything to complain of in that way. There has never been a hint of superiority nor of contempt. I have always found that men tire ready to help me with my work rather than criticise it. "I remember the first evening at the Tec. It was 'practical night,' and the instructor gave me some soldering to do, probably thinking it would finish my enthusiasm. But that was child's play to me — the sort of thing I'd been doing since I was a kid. And anyway the boys all came round and offered to show me the best way to do it. "I got my first job through an advertisement. Someone at Undercliffe wanted a house wired, and though I had only book knowledge at the time of that sort of work, I wasn't afraid I couldn't do it if I got the job. It was a fearfully hot day, and the house was about two miles from the tram. I got the job because I was the only 'contractor' to arrive there. I employed a lad to help me, and — well, there were no complaints when it was done. Since that day contracting has been so ridiculously easy for me that I have had as many orders as I could keep up with." Miss Wallace went on to tell how she started her office and workshop combined at Rawson Chambers, where she threw herself on the mercy of the manager to lend her a few chairs, a table, and a strip of oilcloth to make a show for the customers. She had no tools in the beginning, but bought them with her first earnings. The men from the Technical College used to bring her their odd jobs, or come to work themselves in her workshop which was open house to them. It is the same thing today. When she transferred to the electrical and wireless shop that she now presides over she bought the entire stock of the wireless vendor who preceded her and began to take an interest in wireless telegraphy beyond the mere selling of the apparatus.

DOTS AND DASHES. "The first man who came in for an iron pyrites crystal made me feel ashamed that I couldn't talk his language — he was a wireless operator from one of the boats — but I set about rectifying that, and very soon I was a keen convert to the radiograph. Today I could talk about wireless for hours and never get tired of it. Indeed I am so enthusiastic that I am giving up contracting altogether as soon as I can finish the orders I have on hand, and am going to devote myself entirely to wireless. We make the machines here. I have my own lathe upstairs, and we turn out the entire machines, both the crystal and the valve wireless apparatus. The connecting telephones come from America, but the ebonite and the crystals, and even the copper wire for the drums, are all produced locally. With this little machine that you can carry in your hand we are able to pick up Melbourne and all adjacent stations, while the valve machine puts us in touch with New York, the Eiffel Tower, Carnarvon, and all the big wireless stations abroad. There are five thousand amateur wireless enthusiasts in Australia, and supplying their needs is a trade — a growing trade — in itself." Through Miss Wallace having taken up a collection for the wireless operator of the Helen B. Sterling, who lost heavily in the wreck, and the pleasant social gathering that was convened for the presentation, has grown the establishment of the Metropolitan Radio Club, of which she has been elected the treasurer. There were at the first meeting, held a fortnight ago in the Persian Garden, one hundred members, all residents of Sydney. Again Miss Wallace was the only woman member. This enterprising woman pioneer of one of the most necessary branches of the world's work is one of those who says little and does much.

1922 10

Violet resigns her position as hon. treasurer of the Metropolitan Radio Club due to her commercial association

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. BY DOT DASH . . . . CLUB OFFICERS RESIGN. Mr. R. C. Marsden (president), Miss F. V. Wallace (hon. treasurer), and Mr. W. Mitchell (hon. secretary), have announced their intention of resigning from their offices in the Metropolitan Radio Club. Mr. Marsden stated that he is now connected with wireless in a commercial sense, and therefore for obvious reasons, does not think it is right that he should continue as the head of a club composed of amateurs. He will, however, still remain a member of the club, and do everything in his power to forward its interests. Miss Wallace's reasons are practically identical, and she also promises the club her continued support. The resignations of these officers leaves the committee without a quorum, and it has been decided, therefore, to conduct an election of committee and officers at the next general meeting of the club, at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Wednesday week. At this meeting also, the reorganisation of the club will be discussed, and this will have to be the first task of the new committee. Nominations for the committee will close with the secretary, care of Royal Arcade, on Monday, October 30. Nominations must be signed by the nominee, and also by another member of the club, who will second him.

Extensive discussion about conflict of interest at NSW Radio Association meeting

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. By DOT DASH. . . . THE ASSOCIATION. The second meeting of the Radio Association of Australia (N.S.W. Branch) was held at the Protestant Hall, Castlereagh-street, on Tuesday last. Mr. Hewett, provisional president, occupied the chair. The letter from Mr. Malone, as published in the "Evening News," was read, and it was agreed that the association should do everything in its power to assist the authorities. A lengthy discussion took place on the advisability of having experimenters who were connected with the commercial wireless as officers of the council. The main contention was that it was up to the amateurs to realise the situation, and if they did not want such persons on the council or committee of their association or club then the prominent amateurs should come forward, and take over the government of the various bodies. The following motion was unanimously agreed to:— "That this council expresses its opinion that experimenters on the council, engaged in commercial wireless have in no way acted against the best interests of the association or amateurs generally." It was also agreed that this council affirms its confidence in Mr. O. F. Mingay; and, further regrets that he is unable to accept the position of hon. secretary." Adoption of rules and bylaws — The rules and bylaws as presented by the constitutional subcommittee, were unanimously adopted. The full ???? printed and circulated to all sub branches when funds will allow of same. The election of officers resulted:— Mr. Hewett, president; Mr. Swinburne and Mr. Bowman, vice-presidents; Mr. Atkinson, hon. secretary; and Mr. Best, treasurer. The secretary can be communicated with at the Electricity Department, Sydney Town Hall.

1922 11

Violet re-elected treasurer of the Metropolitan Radio Club, despite her earlier resignation

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. By DOT DASH. . . . CLUB OFFICERS RE-ELECTED. There was a good attendance at the meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club on Wednesday evening, when the officers tendered their resignations. As has already been explained in this column, the president, Mr. R. C. Marsden, resigned because he is now interested in wireless in a commercial sense, and did not think it right that he should be at the head of an amateur body. This he explained at length to the meeting. The members, however, had other views and several voiced complete confidence in the officers, and urged their re-election. This was done, and the new officers and committee are as follows:— President, Mr. Marsden; hon. secretary, Mr. A. Mitchell; hon. treasurer, Miss F. V. Wallace; committee, Messrs. W. Best, F. Swinburne, W. Bird, S. Atkinson, and W. Cotterill. Mr. Marsden and Miss Wallace were appointed delegates to the Radio Association of Australia (N.S.W. Division).

Violet noted as being the only female delegate to the NSW Radio Association and a member of WIA NSW

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. WOMAN DELEGATE. By DOT DASH. There are many women experimenters in Australia today, and from all accounts they are very successful in the work. One of the best known, and an enthusiastic worker in the amateur cause, is Miss F. V. Wallace. At the last meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club, of which she is hon. treasurer, Miss Wallace was appointed, with the president, Mr. Marsden, to represent the club on the Radio Association of Australia (N.S.W. branch). She is also a member of the Wireless Institute of Australia (N.S.W. division).

1922 12

Violet's shop amongst those providing application forms for the upcoming Trans-Pacific Tests 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. By DOT DASH. . . . . THE BIG TESTS. The organisation for the forthcoming Trans-Pacific radio test is now in full swing and the committee have circularised all licensed stations in New South Wales. As the work will be exceptionally heavy, the committee wants applications from intending competitors as soon as possible. Application forms may be obtained at the following places:— Colville and Moore Wireless Supplies; Electricity House; Grace Brothers; Anthony Hordern and Sons; Miss F. V. Wallace; Radio House; F. F. O'Sullivan's; Burgin Electric Company; Australectric Limited; and W. Harry Wiles. The next general meeting of experimenters taking part and all interested in the tests will be held in the Railway Institute Hall on Tuesday, January 9, at 8 p.m.

1923

1923 01

Violet's firm supporting the prizes for the Trans-Pacific Tests 1923

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes and News. By DOT DASH. . . . THE BIG TESTS. Arrangements for the amateur trans-Pacific tests are well in hand, and the N.S.W. committee is working hard to bring success. Mr. Harvey, who was hon. secretary of the committee, has been appointed to the position of operator at Vila. The secretaryship has been taken up by Mr. G. W. Tatham, 58 Adelaide-street, Woollahra, to whom all inquiries should be addressed. The following are entering for the test, and will endeavor to receive the American messages:— Messrs. C. D. Maclurcan, W. Hudson, P. Spencer Nolan, Robert James Sharpe, Sydney V. Colville, R. C. Marsden, F. T. S. O'Donnell, Edward B. Crocker, Western Suburbs Amateur Radio Club, Burwood Radio Club (Calibration Test). Mr. C. P. Bartholomew has announced that he will not enter, but has given a donation of £2/2/-. "Sea, Land, and Air;" Australectric; Ltd.; Colville and Moore, Wireless Supplies; Electric Utilities Supply Co.; Burgin Electric Co.; Miss Wallace; Mr. Malcolm Perry; Mr. Frank F. O'Sullivan, Radio Company; Mr. W. Harry Wiles; Electricity House; "Wireless Weekly"; Western Electric Co.; Sydney Motor and Dynamo Co.; Universal Electric Co.; Mr. H. G. Dewis.

1923 02

At first annual meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club, Violet is re-elected treasurer, while future husband Cecil Roland McKenzie is elected secretary

THE MAGIC SPARK. Radio Notes & News. BY DOT DASH . . . IN THE CLUBS. METROPOLITAN. The first annual meeting of the Metropolitan Radio Club was held at the Laurel Cafe, Royal Arcade, on Wednesday evening, when there was a large attendance of members. The principal item of the evening was the election of officers and this resulted as follows:— Mr R. C. Marsden, president; Mr. A. Atkinson, vice-president; Mr. C. R. McKenzie, secretary; Miss F. V. Wallace, treasurer; Messrs. D. McIntyre, S. Atkinson junr., W. Cotterell, and P. Sewell, committee. Mr Marsden and Mr. Atkinson will be the club's delegates to the N.S.W. Radio Association. It was decided that the meetings of the club be held on Monday evenings, instead of Wednesdays. . . .

1925

1925 01

Topics for Women. . . .

(Start Photo Caption) Mrs. C. R. Mackenzie (End Photo Caption)

The marriage of Miss Florence Violet Wallace, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Wallace, of Concord, and Mr. Cecil Roland Mackenzie, eldest son of Mrs. G. E. Mackenzie, of King's-road, Watson's Bay, was celebrated last night. The bride is an electrical engineer, and is the first Sydney woman to manage her own electrical and wireless apparatus shop. The ceremony was a quiet one owing to the ill-health of the bride's mother.

1926

1926 07

Birth notice for Violet's stillborn daughter

BIRTHS. . . . McKENZIE (F. V. Wallace).—June 9, to Mr. and Mrs. C. R. McKenzie, Jenolan, George street, Greenwich Point — a daughter (stillborn).

1927

1927 08

University Women in the Business Life of Sydney. How Commerce is Linked With the Higher Education. (Written for the "Sunday Pictorial" by "Achernar.")

IT has been said that women admire the male sex, but are condescending to the individual; whereas men admire individual women, but are condescending towards the sex. Is man's condescension towards the other sex a real reason why women graduates often find difficulty in entering the higher grades of business life? Helen Jerome, in her devastating book "The Secrets of Women," makes the bitter complaint that "if a woman would enter certain realms the male boss must approve of the color of her eyes, so to speak." Some other women critics of the ways of a man-made world insist that a jealous masculine fear of feminine ability spurs such acts of sex-antagonism as the illogical exclusion of women medical students from a few big hospitals. Even some men have confessed a fear of the business rivalry of women. Professor Powers, of California, goes so far as to prophesy that by 1977 at the latest, man will be doing the housework and minding the children, and that the woman will be the bread-winner and supporter of the family. Perhaps the masculine fear of such a revolution is aggravated by an ominous realisation that man is often more competent in the domestic arts than woman is. As a cook, or even a knitter, many males are exceptionally skilful, and one of the signs that women's place is not necessarily the home is that she has never invented, as man has, a notable device for lessening household drudgery. Woman is tied to the home frequently, not by her inherent instincts and capacities, but merely by the force of conventional circumstances.

PREJUDICE AMONG EMPLOYERS. Of course, some of the difficulties experienced by women graduates climbing the hard, steep cliff of commerce are not peculiar to their sex. As the recent report of the Sydney University Appointments Board shows, there is still a prejudice amongst employers against both male and female graduates as candidates for business posts. That prejudice is partly fed by the critical superiority which some ex-University students manifest towards their animate and inanimate business surroundings. During their four or five years at the fount of culture, their ego burgeoned so magnificently that the very sight of a commonplace business office heightens their hauteur. That, fortunately, applies only to the very few. A more stubborn obstacle raised by some employers against the entry of women graduates into business is that a good woman employee, working amongst men, will probably marry, and so deprive the firm of her trained services. It must not be supposed that the opposition to the educated woman's advancement in the business world comes mainly from men. It was a woman writer of rare feminine sympathies who insisted that the woman can succeed at few of man's professions. Women, too, have seriously ridiculed the training value of the university for women, whether the vocational or the purely cultural goal be in mind. Frances Warfield, for instance, records how her own graduation left her with little more than a realisation that Emerson was a transcendentalist, and that Pasteur took all the bugs out of milk. Beyond the plain and fancy catchwords of erudition she barely probed, and from all her probings garnered little of permanent practical value. That may be an exceptional case, but even the woman who has made the most of her university training often finds it hard to realise that a special and additional apprenticeship is needed before she can effectively fill an advanced business vacancy. As the woman graduate who acts as adviser to women students at the University of Manchester points out in the June number of "Scribner's" magazine, it is foolish and hopeless for a graduate with no particular business training to imagine that her degree qualifies her for a high commercial post with privileges concerning working hours and rate of pay. But in spite of all the difficulties in the way of university students, and particularly women graduates, reaching out to good business positions, commerce should undoubtedly be linked with higher education. Not only in the field of industrial research, but also in many of the more prosaic ways, the well-educated mind can infringe profitably upon the business routine. A sound university training not only imparts detailed knowledge in a few selected subjects; it also increases the power of sifting evidence and reaching reliable conclusions.

SOME SYDNEY WOMEN GRADUATES. . . . A WOMAN ENGINEER. Of unusual interest is the career of Miss F. V. Wallace (Mrs. C. R. McKenzie), who was educated first at the Sydney Girls' High School. Then she took the first year's course in Science at the University, later securing the Technical College engineering degree (Diploma — Associate, Syd. Tech. College). "This diploma," she says, "took five years to get — four to five nights' work per week — and during those years I carried on business as an electrical contractor, installing electric motors and wiring buildings, rewinding and repairing electrical apparatus. Then, in 1921, I opened an electrical and radio shop in the Royal Arcade, specialising later in radio — always on my 'own.' In 1924 I attended the New York Radio and Electrical Exhibition, and saw something of America." In December, 1924, Miss Wallace married Mr. C. R. McKenzie (electrical engineer) — "My most successful undertaking," she says — and in February, 1926, she sold out her business and retired. But in January, 1927, tired of "retirement," she accepted a position in David Jones's radio department, demonstrating and selling radio sets, etc. "I have the most optimistic views regarding the opportunities for women who have qualified in engineering," says Mrs. McKenzie. "While carrying on business as an electrical contractor I never had the least difficulty in obtaining contracts. I never seemed to meet with any prejudice or opposition. For some years I was treasurer of the Metropolitan Radio Club, and a member of the committee of the Sydney Technical College Engineers' Association. "I am satisfied that there is a large demand in business for qualified women, possibly because of their capacity for loyalty to their firm, their enthusiasm, and their attention to detail." . . . .

1940s

1940

1940 02

Violet provides a status report on the WESC

DOT AND DASH — GIRLS AT SIGNALS. MRS. F. V. McKENZIE, who is in charge of the Electrical Association for Women, is also in charge of the Women's Emergency Signallers' Corps, which has a membership of 300 girls, average age being from 24 to 25. And on Monday next a new company of about 100 girl signallers is being formed. The work in this corps is entirely voluntary, and none of the girls joins with the idea of making it a career — the work is being done purely for defence measures. The girls learn all branches of signalling — Morse code, lamp and flag signalling — and they follow as closely as possible the same course as the men's military signalling units. Morse code is the most important of the subjects taught to the girls, as it will prove most useful in defence work. It takes approximately six months for members of the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps to become sufficiently trained to be commercially useful in signalling, but they can go on learning new work for an indefinite period. The girls hold ranks according to their ability, and are given regimental numbers — the girl who passes the necessary examination first being number one. Miss Ena Stewart, who is a sergeant, is the proud member who holds this distinction, but she says she still has a great deal to learn. Miss Stewart and other advanced members of the corps sometimes assist Mrs. McKenzie in coaching the not-so-advanced members of the unit; occasionally, also, officers from Victoria Barracks, instruct the corps. The corps is at present supplying 16 of its members as honorary instructors to men and boys who are training to be recruited to the Air Force as wireless operators, as they are not eligible in their branch of the Air Force unless they have some knowledge of signalling. All the members of the first company of the Women's Emergency Signallers' Corps are quite capable of instructing, and a number of them are able to read 30 words a minute in Morse code. NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS. The girls who are members of the corps come from all walks of life — some are business girls, some University girls and some are young married women; all the qualifications needed are a quick ear and a sense of rhythm, and for lamp signalling good eyesight. The radio course has just begun, and all the girls are anxious to learn all they can. The work never becomes monotonous, as there is something new turning up every day. Each member attends a lecture on one night a week, and the girls work in groups according to their speed and send messages to each other in code. They all spend as much of their spare time as they can in practising in the rooms of the Electrical Association for Women. The lunch-hour is a most popular practising time. Regular field days are held, sometimes in Centennial Park, to practise the practical work in field operations, and during the Easter holidays a four days' camp is being held at the Castle Hill Showground, at which 150 of the girls will attend. A complete programme for the camp has been drawn up by the officers of the men's signalling units, so that the girls will be trained in all branches connected with their units. The camp will be run entirely by the girls, however, and an advance party will go to Castle Hill the day before the main party to prepare the camp. Later on the Women's Emergency Corps intends holding a concert, and at present the members of the corps are busy training a ballet to take part in the concert. The uniform of the corps consists of a forest green skirt and military jacket, similar to the uniform of the Women Territorials in England, with brown buttons and brown leather belt, white shirt and brown tie, brown shoes and stockings, a forest green forage cap and brown gloves. The military jacket has the signallers' badge on the left sleeve, and stripes according to rank.

1940 03

Violet notes that WESC already using Morse code aptitude test on its own applicants

From Day to Day in Sydney. Signalling Test. NINETY-THREE applicants for the Women's Emergency Signallers' Corps were given an adaptability test last night at the rooms of the Electrical Association for Women. Mrs. F. V. McKenzie, who is in charge of the association and also of the Signallers' Corps, gave the test which is similar to that given to applicants to the R.A.A.F. Seventy-eight pairs of signals were presented and the candidates indicated whether the units of each pair were the same or different. The successful applicants will form part of a new company of about 100 girl signallers. After the test had been concluded Mrs. McKenzie reported that only three candidates had failed and that nineteen had secured 100 per cent although none knew Morse before joining the corps. "I believe the average percent-age of failures with R.A.A.F. candidates is about 25 per cent. so girls must have 'an ear' for rhythm," she remarked.

1940 04

Violet provides assurance that women are not being trained to replace men

SIGNALLING CORPS. "THE GIRLS of the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps are under no delusion that they are being trained for a job or a career. They have no intention of replacing men; they are simply becoming more efficient so that in an emergency they could do the work of men on active service," said Mrs. F. V. McKenzie, organiser of the corps, at the Quota Club luncheon at Farmer's restaurant yesterday. Mrs. McKenzie said that practical tests were held frequently, and that shortly a night relay transmission will be arranged from South Head to Barrenjoey. "We are very privileged to receive permission to carry out this experiment, as it is unusual for women to be allowed inside official military enclosures," she explained.

1940 05

Violet speaks at meeting of women's volunteer groups concerned about overlap

SUGGEST WAR WORK OVERLAPS. That there is overlapping in various branches of women's voluntary services was a criticism made by several speakers at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Women's Voluntary National Register. Because of this overlapping, many women had unknowingly registered themselves for both Federal and State services, said Miss K. McDowell, who represented the Women's Section of the National Defence League. "If an emergency arose these women would have to let down one or the other organisation, and so cause great confusion," she said. "The National Defence League feels, therefore, that the time has now come to clear up this confusion by clearly defining the overlapping sections." The same point was stressed by Miss E. H. Frazer, a member of the Women's Transport Corps. "Each organisation is doing excellent work, but there is too much division in the same class of work," she said. Government Recognition Miss Frazer then proposed a resolution which was passed by the meeting: "That this council should ask the Government to recognise officially the trained units enrolled with the National Register and whose qualifications have reached a standard recognised by the community." Different organisations gave reports of their work. Sixty per cent. of the certificates given by the National Emergency Services have been given to women, said Miss A. B. Parry. Whereas many other organisations had found that their active work would not be needed except in the case of emergency, Mrs. F. V. McKenzie said that the Women's National Emergency Signalling Corps had discovered a definite task on hand. "Many of our girls are now instructors, and train men who are waiting to be called up, particularly for the Air Force. "We have evolved a system of our own quite different from the Army's, which has interested military men," she said. "We have not yet been officially recognised by the Army, but are doing this definite work and have 200 girls quite capable of teaching by the new quick method. "We also have a definite plan to cope with any emergency in the break of communications," she added. Miss Ruby Board presided at the meeting.

1940 06

WESC now just one of dozens of women's organisations contributing to the war effort

WOMEN SHARE AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL EFFORT.

WITH the active concurrence of the Prime Minister, a new women's organisation is being formed as the result of a conference recently held in Sydney. This organisation is to be known as the Women's Australian National Services and in giving approval to the idea Mr. Menzies stated that the Commonwealth Government favored the proposal to organise all women's groups in each State for voluntary war service under a council suitable to the State Governments.

Among women's organisations already doing active war work in New South Wales are: Women's Emergency Signalling Corps. — Director: Mrs. F. W. McKenzie (BW7436), 9 Clarence Street, Sydney. National Emergency Service Ambulance Drivers, previously Women's Transport Corps.— Secretary: Mrs. F. R. Pemble (BW7343), 71 Macquarie Street, Sydney. Australian Women's Flying Club, 221 George Street, Sydney.— State Commandant: Mrs. Nancy Walton (MX1569), Bushlands Avenue, Gordon. State secretary: Miss W. Gillespie (FU7084), 41 Towns Road, Rose Bay.

Victoria has the: Women's Auxiliary Training League of the Power Farming Association of Victoria.— Director: Mrs. F. J. Woodward, 5 Flintoft Avenue, Toorak. Australian Women's Legion.— Controller-General: Mrs. A. H. James, 1 Missouri Avenue, Elsternwick, S.4. Women's Cavalry Corps.— Leader: Miss Lorna Embling, N. Clayton. Women's Auxiliary Training Corps.— Commandant: Mrs. Bell, "Monterey," 17 Queen's Road, Melbourne, S.C.2. Red Cross Emergency Companies.— Liaison officers: Mrs. T. W. White and Mrs. Scantlebury, Australian Red Cross Society, Latrobe Street, Melbourne. Melbourne Militors.— Commandant: Miss Madge Baker, 2 St. Aubins Avenue, Caulfield, S.E.7. Voluntary Aid Detachments.— Superintendent: Mr. Frederick Raven, Victorian Civil Ambulance Association, 217 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, C.1. State Controller: Col. J. A. H. Sherwin, 217 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, C.1.

In Queensland there are: Women's Voluntary National Register.— The Lady Mayoress, City Hall, Brisbane. Women's Air Training Corps.— Mrs. Risson, Welbeck Street, Alderley. Women's Air and Motor Unit.— Miss D. Mullins, 41 Butler Street, Clayfield, Brisbane. Women's Reserve Emergency National Service.— Mrs. J. L. Selwood, Lisburn Street, East Brisbane. Women's Auxiliary Transport Service. — Mrs. C. Philp, Graham Road, Indooroopilly, Brisbane. Women's National Emergency Legion. — Mrs. W. D. Ryan, 195 Dornoch Terrace, Highgate Hill, South Brisbane. Southport Men and Women's Defence Council.— J. H. Morgan, Bongal Street, Southport.

Western Australian women have active organisations, such as: Australian Red Cross Society.— State Controller: Col. D. D. Mackenzie. Assistant State Controller: Mrs. Mary Meares, M.B.E. The address of both of these is c/o Red Cross Headquarters, 18 Howard Street, Perth.

Similar patriotic work is being done in South Australia by: Voluntary Aid Detachments.— Controller: Dr. H. H. E. Russell, Unley Road, Unley. Assistant Controller: Miss G. J. Jude, 6 High Street, Glenelg. Assistant Controller: Mrs. H. H. Dutton, Kapunda. Volunteer Service Detachments (under Red Cross Emergency Committee).— Chairman: Mr. G. S. Reed, K.C., 17 Currie Street, Adelaide. Secretary: Mrs. J. S. Blackburn, c/o Red Cross Society, Rundle Street, Adelaide. Commandant: Mrs. K. C. Wilson, 70 Tusmore Avenue, Tusmore. Red Cross Emergency Transport Service.— Director: Mr. J. H. Howard, National Safety Council, National Bank Chambers, King William Street, Adelaide. Commandant: Mrs. S. Roy Burston, Adelaide. Country Women's Association.— President: Mrs. I. Warnes, Burra. Secretary: Miss Dolling, 162 Rundle Street, Adelaide. Cheer-up Society.— President: Mr. E. B. Grandfield, c/o W.A. Insurance Co., Currie Street, Adelaide. Secretary: Mr. G. Hawkes, c/o Savings Bank, Rundle Street, Adelaide. Organiser: Mrs. G. Hawkes, 5 Orange Grove, Kensington Park. Women's National Voluntary Register. — President: The Lady Mayoress, Mrs. A. G. Barrett, Town Hall, Adelaide. Women's Defence Services.— Chairman: Mrs. Lance Lewis, "Benacre," Glen Osmond. Defence Society.— President: Miss Natalis Davies, B.A., c/o Epworth Buildings, Pirie Street, Adelaide.

In Tasmania women's groups include: Australian Women's Air Training Corps.— State Commandant: Mrs. D. Taylor, "Winton," Campbell Town. Australian Women's Air Training Corps.— Northern Commandant: Mrs. T. H. Davies, George Town. Voluntary Aid Detachments.— Mrs. G. A. D. Youl, Northern Controller, "Leighlands," Perth, Tasmania. Women's League of Remembrance.— President: Mrs. G. A. D. Youl, c/o Anzac Hostel, Launceston. Women's Works Committee.— President: Mrs. E. E. Barker, Red Cross Society, 71 St. John Street, Launceston. Women's Works Committee.— Secretary: Mrs. F. M. Parker, Red Cross Society, 23 Elizabeth Street, Hobart. Womens' Auxiliary, St. John Ambulance.— Secretary: Mrs. T. K. Robson, 2 Pen-y-bryn Place, Launceston. V.A.D.'s.— Controller for State: Lt.-Col. Thirkell, M.B.E., V.D., 405 Elizabeth Street, Hobart Assistant Controller: Mrs. R. J. O. Harris (Southern Tasmania), c/o Hutchin's School. Red Cross Emergency.— Headquarters' Superintendent: Mr. R. St Hill, 4 Proctor's Road, Hobart. St. John Nursing Division.— District Superintendent: Dr. T. H. Goddard, 197 Macquarie Street, Hobart. Women's National Register.— Miss Cecily Travers, Fisher Avenue, Lower Sandy Bay. Girl Guides.— Acting-State Commissioner: Mrs. R. M. W. Thirkell, 405 Elizabeth Street, Hobart.

1940 07

WESC being used to test applicants for the Air Force for morse aptitude

GIRLS HELP TO TEST AIR CREWS. Applicants for entry into the Air Force as aircrews (pilots, observers and wireless-telegraphists-air gunners) are now being tested in "Morse aptitude" by girls of the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps. "Morse aptitude" is not to be confused with ability to transmit and receive in Morse code. The candidate may know nothing about Morse — at present. The test simply determines the ability of the candidate to distinguish between one sound and another. The tester, for instance, makes the letter X twice on the Morse buzzer, and asks if the sounds made are the same. Or she may make a Q and a Y, and the candidate seeks to distinguish between them. Seventy-eight separate pairs of letters are buzzed out. Some men pick correctly up to 70 or more. Perception Of Signals The test serves to measure the applicants' quickness to differentiate between signals. Those who are unsuccessful are marked unsuited for training as wireless operators in any section of the Air Force. They may, however, be quite suitable as pilots and observers. Every man applying for aircrew enlistment is now subjected to this test. Since the recent speeding-up in dealing with candidates, the strain on the men at Woolloomooloo centre has increased to a point where the voluntary services of the well-trained members of the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps is proving most acceptable.

1947

1947 03

TODAY: AUSTRALIA. She gave the boss electrician a shock. Today's Sydney Office Twenty-three years ago, a shy, young, 5ft. tall woman arrived at a house in Undercliffe, opened up a bag of tools, went to work installing the electric light. She climbed up through the manhole in her overalls, nailed down the conduit, pulled through the wires, climbed stepladders, screwed in the switches. When the job was finished a husky inspector arrived to pass the work. "Who is the electrician," he demanded. "I am," said the small woman, meekly. "Well, I'll be darned," said the inspector, examined the installation, passed it. It was the first time in Sydney that a woman had installed an electricity service. The woman, Florence Violet Wallace, worked for eight years as an electrical contractor in Sydney, and suburbs, didn't give up the business until she got married — to electrical engineer Cecil McKenzie. In 1925 she got an amateur transmitter's licence, and went on the air as 2GA, later demonstrated electrical cooking appliances. Early in 1939 she had a feeling there'd be another war, so she decided to open a signalling school for women. In the event of war, she decided, there'd be a demand for women telegraphists in post offices and other essential communications. She took premises in Clarence Street — two floors at the top of two long flights of a narrow, worn, almost perpendicular stairway. Lessons were free, her own efforts voluntary. She taught the first batch of girls herself, and when they got through their exams they stayed on to instruct others. When war came, her school — the Women's Emergency Signalling Corps — was well established. In the war years she and her assistants taught telegraphy to more than 1000 girls, more than 12,000 servicemen, for all branches of the Services. Her classes became international. Men came to her for tuition from the Royal Indian Navy, the US Forces, the Merchant Marine of half a dozen countries — French, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, American, Indonesian. One night in March, 1945, an American Liberty ship began flashing a message. Greenwich Point residents, thinking the ship was in distress, ran to Mrs. McKenzie's home, asked her to read the message. She was surprised when the flashes spelled out her own name. It was a message for herself, sent by a ship's officer, asking if he could attend her classes to increase his morse transmitting speed. Mrs. McKenzie replied, by torch, that he could. The officer afterwards explained that he had been told in San Francisco about her school, and that she lived at Greenwich Point. At war's end Mrs. McKenzie didn't slacken. This week she was still on the job, her brown hair greying, her tired eyes magnified by the thick lenses of her spectacles. Nowadays most of her pupils are ex-RAAF men studying radio or improving their speed to meet civil flying needs. Forty-three civil pilots have passed through the school this year. Also attending are Merchant Marine men studying for masters' and mates' certificates.